| Streets | |
|---|---|
| Compilation album by Various | |
| Released | End of 1977 |
| Genre | Punk rock |
| Label | Beggars Banquet Records |
Streets is a compilation album of early British punk rock bands from a variety of independent record labels [1]. It was an attempt at an end of year ‘round up’ [2] and, significantly, was the first album released on Beggars Banquet Records (catalogue number BEGA1).[3]
The sleeve notes stated that: "1977 was the year that the music came out of the concert halls & onto the streets; when independent labels sprang out of the woodwork to feed new tastes; when rock music once again became about energy & fun; when the major’s boardrooms lost control. Suddenly we could do anything".
The Members' contribution to Streets was their debut on vinyl, and its impact was such that it contributed to a record deal with Stiff Records.[4] It was also The Doll's recording debut.[5] Within 14 months of the release of the compilation, both bands went on to have UK Top 30 hit singles; the Members with "The Sound of the Suburbs" (number 12 in January 1979) and the Doll with "Desire Me" (number 28 in December 1978).[6]
In 2004, the record was included in a trakMarx review of Classic Punk Rock Compilation LPs, where it was described as "the first real collection of ‘highlights from independent British labels’ ever undertaken… Streets was utterly groundbreaking stuff."[1]. The Punk77 website described it as an "excellent" compilation.[7] Two of the tracks – Slaughter & the Dogs’s "Cranked Up Really High" and The Nosebleeds' "Ain’t Bin To No Music School" - were included in Mojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time.[8]. Another track, The Drones’ "Lookalikes", was similarly acclaimed in an all-time best list by Steve Gardner of NKVD Records.[9]